Hulling machine



HULLING MACHINE Filed Jan. 15, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ///(/7f0r Job Z Javier his liter/1e J. A. HACKER HULLING' MACHINE May 12, 1925.

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J. A. HACKER HULLING MACHINE 4 SheetS-Sheet :5

Filed Jan. 15, 1925 Patented May 12, 1925.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. HACKER, OF PLAINFIELD, ILLINOIS.

HULLING MACHINE.

Application filed January 15, 1923.

citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Flainfield, county of Will, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hulling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hulling machines and has for its principal object the provision of an improved construction of this character which will be highly efiicient in use, the hulling machine embodied in the invention being especially designed for clover hulling, one which will more efliciently separate the clover seeds from the chaff, straw and other foreign matter.

it is one of the objects of the invention to provide certain elements to be used in combination with hulling machines of approved type now commercially in use whereby the process of hulling is carried on more rapidly and the seeds more thoroughly separated from the chaff.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the combinations and arran ements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Fig. 1, is a fragmentary sectional view of a hulling machine embodying the invention;

Fig. 2, is a plan view of one of the separating sieves embodied in the invention;

Fig. 3, is a fragmentary plan view of a modified form of separating sieve embodied in the invention;

Fig. l, is a sectional View taken substantially on line 4.1 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5, is a fragmentary side elevational view of the frame of the separating sieve illustrated in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6, is an end view of the same;

Fig. 7, is a fragmentary sectional view of another of the separating sieves embodied in the invention;

Fig. 8, is a sectional view taken substan- Serial No. 612,801.

illustrated in Fig. 10, showing a modified form of hanging one of the separating sieves embodied in the invention;

Fig. 12, is a side elevational View of a modified form of separating sieve embodied in the invention;

Fig. 13, is a sectional view taken substantially on line l3-13 of Fig. 12;

Fig. 14L, is a sectional view of the sieve illustrated in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15, is an elevational view of the driving means for the blast fan embodied in the invention, and

Fig. 16, is a side elevational View of the same.

Referring to the drawings, especially to Fig. 1, 20 indicates the hulling machine provided with separating tables 21, 22 and 23 arranged one above the other and at different inclines and supported for straight end shake by hangers 24, the straight end shake being imparted to the separating tables by pitmen, one being indicated at 25, which are operatively connected to a crank shaft (not shown).

The straw is delivered to the separating table 21 from a thrashing cylinder, (not shown) and due to the straight end shake of the table the long and heavy straw is passed along said table in the. direction in.-

dicated by the arrow in Fig. 1, and discarded into a wind-stacker 26. The lighter straw and clover pods pass through the perforated bottom of the table 21 onto the separating table 22 where the same action takes place, the larger and heavier straw pass along the table in the direction indicated by the arrow and are discarded into the windstacker 26. Again the lighter straw and clover pods are dropped through the perforated bottom of the table 22 onto the separating table 23 and due to the straight end shake of the table the clover pods and straw travel in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig- 1, into a hulling cylinder (not shown) where the clover seeds are thrashed from the pods and the cloverchaif and the hulled seeds are picked up by a conveyor 27. The parts of the hulling machine mentioned above and operation of the same are to be found in hulling machines of any approved type and the Various elements and steps have been merely mentioned so that my improvements, hereinafter to be mentioned,

will be more fully understood.

The conveyor 27 15 mounted to rotate onsuitable drums 2S and is operated by suitable means. From the conveyor 27 the chaff,

stems, pods and hulled seeds are discharged upon a separating tray or sieve 30 also mounted for straight end shake and operatively connected by means of hangers 31 to the separating table 23. Inasmuch as the separating table 23 is mounted for endwise shake it will be apparent that by reason of the operative connection of the separating sieve 30 to this table by means of the hangers 31 that the sieve will also be caused to reciprocate endwise. The clover seeds, as well as the other matter mentioned, are caused to travel in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1. The separating sieve 30 has a perforated bottom, the. perforations being of various sizes which permit the hulle d seeds and smaller stems, chaff and pods to drop down upon a second sieve 32 also having a perforated bottom with perforations of various sizes. From the sieves 39 and 32 the large stems, chaff and pods are discarded into a trough 33 where they pass up through the wind-stacker 26 by means of a fan 35. From the sieve 32 the smaller stems, chaff and seeds pass through the perforated bottom of the sieve 32 onto a third sieve 36 below the sieve 32 and operatively connected to the separating table 23 by hanger 31 allowing the sieve 36 to reciprocate endwise in the same manner as the sieve 30. The bottom of the sieve 36 is perforated permitting the hulled seeds to drop down onto floor 37 where they are passed into a trough 38 within which an auger 39 works. The perforations in the bottom of the sieve 36 will not permit the stems and chaff to pass therethrough onto the floor 37, and such stems and chaff are discarded into a trough 40 within which an auger 41 works.

The auger 41 conveys these stems and chaff over to an elevator (not shown) which conveys such stems and chaff to a bottomless trough 40 within which an auger 41 works. The latter auger, namely 41 conveys the stems and chaff and such hulled seeds which have failed to pass through the sieve 36,

along the trough 40' scattering such seeds, stems and chaff over the separating table 23 at this'point and after being received by the separating table, the stems, chaff and seeds are passed over and along this table and again pass through the hulling cylinder.

The augers 41 and- 41 do not constitute a part of the present invention, they are mentioned merely to more fully bring out the separating the clover seeds from the chaff, stems and pods will accomplish the purpose but at times it is found necessary to take away the chaff, stems and pods more rapidly due to the large amount of clover pods received by the hulling cylinder and it is my object to provide a third sieve, namely that indicated at 32, the operation of which has already been explained, which will accomplish these purposes by taking away a large amount of the chaff, stems and pods before received by the last sieve, namely 36. It is also my object to construct this third sieve in such a manner that the same can be installed in a hulling machine of the character herein set forth after the machine has been completely constructed and at times when it is found necessary to install such a third sieve. To accomplish this object and referring to Figs. 3 to 12, inclusive, the sieves as illustrated in these figures are made in sectional parts. The illustration in Fig. 2 shows the sieve 32 comprising side frames 42 with a perforated bottom 43, the perforations in the rearward part of the sieve, as at 44, are smaller in diameter than those indicated at 45, the object being to get rid of as many of the hulled seeds as possible so as not to bind or prevent proper operation of the sieve. While it is stated that the sieve is provided with a perforated bottom it is to be borne in mind that this bottom can be in the form of screening or light metal with the perforations punched therethrough. The sieve illustrated in Fig. 2 is indicated in Fig. l as at 32 and I prefer to mount this sieve between sieves 30 and 36 as to receive matter from the greater portion of the sieve 30as illustrated in this figure. The mounting of the sieve is accomplished by hangers 46 each comprising parts 47 and 48 fixed to the sieves 30- and 32 respectively and fixed together by a threaded extension 49 adapted to receive the threaded ends of the parts 47 and 48, the threads on one of the parts being left-hand threads whereas the threads on the other part being right-hamlthreads so as to draw the members together or to force the members apart when the member 49 is manipulated. By this arrangement- I am able to regulate the distance between either the sieves 30 and 32 or the sieves 32 and 36 and also adjust the inclination of the sieve 32. Fig..11 illustrates a simpler form of hanger. In this instance the hanger comprises a straight member 47 fixed to sieves 3.0 and 32 by nut receiving bolts 48 passing through the adjacent side frames of the sieves.

Referring to the sieve illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, as will be noted by inspection of the drawings, this sieve is made up of sectional parts indicated at 50, 51 and 52, the parts being mounted together by means of rounded groovesand rounded ribs indicated at 53 and 54 respectively which dicated at 64L and 65.

snugly fit together. By the construction of this sieve it isinanifest that by building the sieve in sections the same can be convenient-. ly installed between the sieves 30 and 36 whenever occasion should require, the sectional sieve being hung in operative position in substantially the same manner as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The sieve as illustrated in Figs. 12 to 14, inclusive, is also made up of sectional parts having perforated bottoms as at said parts being indicated respectively at 55, 5.6 and 57, said parts being slidably mounted together by rounded ribs 58 which snugly engage recesses 59, the arrangement being such that sieve can be extended when mounted in operative position. The sieve when extended is mounted inthe same manner as the sieve illustrated in Fig. 2 and when the sectional parts are extended they are held in such extended position by means of pins 60 which pass into openings 61 formed in the adjacent ends of the parts of such sieve.

The three forms of sieves herein illustrated and described are each provided with a perforated bottom, the perforations can be of uniform size or vary as will best serve the purpose.

I have found by the employment of the sieve 32, in the position illustrated in Fig. 1, that the separatingof the clover seeds from the pods, chaff and other matter is accomplished rapidly and it is necessary to regulate the blast fan 61 which blows the light chaff, stems and pods, as they drop from the lower sieve 36 to the floor 37, into the wind-stacker, the force of the wind created by the blast fan is'checked by a series of inclined slats as indicated at 63 carried by suitable supports 26'. I accomplish the regulation of the blast fan 61 by providing a pulley 62 on the shaft 63 of the blast fan, with reduced pulley portions in- The pulley 62 is driven by a belt 66 passing around a suitable drive pulley (not shown). lVhen it is found necessary to increase the speed of the blast fan, belt 66 is shifted to either pulley 64 or 65 by means of a belt shifter 66 mounted for slidable movement on a stud shaft 67 carried by the side wall 68 of the hulling machine. I propose to take up the slack in the belt upon shifting from one pulley to another by means of a suitable belt tightening device (not shown). By the provision of the pulley 62 with the reduced puL ley portions 6% and 65 I am able to regulate the speed of the blast fan so as to more rapidly take away the chaff, stems, or pods still remaining with the hulled seeds during their drop from the sieve 36 to the floor 37.

The illustrations in Figs. 7 and 8 show a fragmentary portion of the forward end of the sieve 30 which is located, as best shown in Fig. 1, directly over the sieve 36., the ad: jacent end of the sieve 32 beinglocated an appreciable distancefrom the end. of the sieve 30, and the bottom of. this: end of the sieve being provided with-larger perforations than the other portion of the sieve I- have found that at times these perforations in this end of the sieve permit too much of the chaff to pass on tov the lower sieve 36, and causes the clo-verseeds tobe turned out with large quantities of chaff. To, preventthis I provide a cover 69rhaving upwardly and downwardlly turned side edges 70. which are adapted to, clamp. the side frames 71 of the sieve 3.0, the cover when mounted in: the position illustrated in Fig. 8 traverses this. end portion of the sieve preventing the hulled: seeds. and chaff from dropping through the perforations in. the bottom. ofsuchv endv portion. 7

The advantages of the improvements in my invention have been already herein stated and it only need be. added that'by; such improvements I am able tov more rapidly and more efficiently separate the cloverseeds from: the chaff and pods and stems without clogging or in any way interfering: with the operation of the machine, the im.-. provements being of such nature that the same can be installed with. only making slight changes in the hulling machine to ac-- cornmodate the various parts embodied in the invention. I 7

From the description herein it is apparentthatthe improvements are: especially de-' signed to be incorporated in a hu-l ling: machine designed especi' ally'f or hulling clover seeds,- however, it isto be understood that: the: hulling.- machine with my improvements can also be used for hulling other seeds as well, where it is required and where it is necessary that the seeds be turned out free from any chaff, stems or pods.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth,

but desire to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

1. A hulling machine including a sepa rating table mounted for straight end shake, upper and lower perforated tray members pivotally depending from said separating tray in inclined relation thereto and operated thereby, the lower member having divergence at an angle With respect to the upper member, and a perforated intermediate tray pivotally depending from said upper member and adjustable between said upper and lower members.

2. A hulling machine including a separating table mounted for straight end shake and having a perforated bottom, upper and lower perforated tray members below the separating table in inclined relation thereto, said lower member having divergence at an angle with respect to the upper member, means pivotally connecting the upper and lower members to and supporting them from the separating table for operation therewith, means pivotally depending from the upper member and constituting a screen for part of the space between the upper and lower members for screening out material falling from the upper member to the lower member, and means preventing the falling of material from the upperinember in the space unscreened by said screening means.

3. A hulling machine including in 'combination with separating tables mounted for straight end shake, of separating trays operatively connected together and arranged one-ab0ve the other and inclined relatively with respect to each other, means operative with the separating tables and supporting the separating trays, a third tray mounted between the separating trays with an end located an appreciable distance from the end of the upper of said separating trays, and means adjustably connecting said third tray for operative movement with said separating trays.

4. A hulling machineincluding members comprising upper and lower perforated trays, each supported for straight end shake, the lower tray having divergence at an angle from one end of the upper tray,

upper and lower trays beyond the extremity I of the intermediate tray.

5. A hulling machine including members comprising upper and lower perforated trays, each supported for straight end shake, the lower tray having divergence at an angle from one end of the upper tray, an intermediate perforated tray having extensible sections, means comprising adjustable hangers for supporting said intermediate tray from said upper tray said intermediate tray being extensible in a direction away from the bight of the angle of divergence of the upper and lower trays.

6. A hulling machine including members comprising upper and lower perforated trays inclined relatively with respect to each other and supported for straight end shake, means mounted between said perforated trays for screening out material dropping from the upper tray to the lower,

tray, a blast fan for blowing away the chaff dropping from the lower tray and means in pendent relation to the lower tray for checking the force of the air blast.

In testimony whereof I have signed myname to this specification in the presence of two subscribmg wltnesses.

JOHN A. HACKER.

l/Vitnesses:

JOSHUA R. H. Po'rrs, FREDA C. APPLETON. 

